Ice-creeper.



G. A. NATH.

ICE CREEPER.

AFPucATmwHLED FEB. 21. me.

atente Nov. 21, F315.

FIQE.

GUSTAV ADOLPI-I DONATE, OF WAVERLY, IOWA.

ICE-CREEPER.

Application led February 21, 1916.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it knownV that I, GUsrAv VADoLrI-I DONATH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Waverly, in the county of Bremer' and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice- Creepers, ofwhich the following is a speciication.

The present invention relates to anti-slipping devices and moreparticularly to ice Creepers for use on shoes.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the character abovementioned which is simple in construction, strong and durable, cheap tomanufacture, and easily and quickly applied in operative position on ashoe.

Another object of my invention is to provide an anti-slipping device ofthe character described formed preferably of wire strands bent intonovel shape to form ground or ice engaging elements for preventingslipping.

Other objects and advantages to be dev rived from the use of myinvention will appear from the following detail description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe showing my improved Creeperapplied thereto, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improved creeper oranti-slipping device, Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one ofthe anti-slipping devices, and Fig. 4 is a similar View of another formof anti-slipping device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein smiliar charactersof reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout thevarious views 1 designatesthe upper of a shoe and 2 the sole.

My invention is adapted to be secured under the shoe sole, means beingprovided for embracing the shoe and retaining the device in positionthereon.

My invention includes side bars 3 and 4 formed of strands of wire havingloops 5 and 6, respectively, on their free ends. The anti-slippingdevices are formed of strands of wire of a slightly smaller gage thanthe strands 3 and 4 and are shownV to advantage in Figs. 3 and 4. Thereare two sets of anti-slipping members in my invention both of whichcooperate in the preferred form of the device. As best shown in Fig. 2the anti-slipping devices when assembled form Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Nov. 21, 191e.

Serial No. 79,644.

a iieXihle body, insuring engagement of all of the anti-slipping memberssimultaneously with the earth.

Referring specifically to the construction of the anti-slipping membersI provide links 7 formed of strands of wire looped upon themselves at 8to formcurved arms 9 and 10, the free extremities of said arms beinglooped as at 11 and bent angularly to form ground or ice engagingelements 12. The looped portions 11 are adapted to be engaged about theadjacent link at the looped portion thereof as best shown in Fig. 2. Theend link is engagable with one of the loops 5 or 6 as Vthe case may be.Any number of sets of anti-slipping members may be provided, but I haveshown two sets in the drawing arranged at opposite ends of the bars orstrands 3 and 4.

In order to conveniently connect the end links of each set to the bar 3I provide a novel form of connecting means aifording anti-slippingmembers, said connecting means including a link 13 engaged with one ofthe loops 5 and having the arms 14 thereof twisted together as at 15,downwardly bent as at 16, and outwardly bent to form anti-slippingelements 17. The adjacent link of a set provided with the hereinbeforedescribed loops 11 and anti-slipping elements 12 is engaged with thearms 14 of the link 13 as best shown in Fig. 3. A strap It will be seenthat in the provision of my improved anti-slipping device the iiexiblenature of the same insures simultaneous engagement of all theanti-slipping members with the earth or the ice as the case may be,thepeculiar connection of the same preventing lateral twisting ordistortion of the anti-slipping device when in use. It will also benoted that in the provision of the link 13 and the peculiar fasteningmeans therefor I have obviated the difficulty which might arise inconnecting the free link of the plurality of links 7, at the same timeproviding anti-slipping elements. The device when applied to a shoe soleis arranged with the narrow end thereof toward the heel of the shoe sothat the toe of the shoe is provided with the relatively wide groundengaging portion of the device which increases the efliciency oftheanti-slipping member when in use. Of course, it is to be understood thatI do not limit myself to the provision of but two sets of links 7 sincethese links could be multiplied and used not only for shoe anti-slippingdevices but might be very readily modified for use in connection withanti-skidding chains for automobiles and the like.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding ofthe construction, use, and advantages of my invention may be readilygathered, and while I have shown and described my invention as embodyinga specific structure I desire it to be understood that I do notlimitmyself to this construction or reserve the right to make suchchanges therein as do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. In adevice of the character described, a plurality of links formed ofstrands of wire bent upon themselves to form arms, said arms beinglooped about adjacent links at or near the bent portion thereof, thefree extremities of said arms being bent outwardly to form anti-slippingelements.

2. In an anti-slipping device, a plurality of interconnected linkshaving arms the free cent their free extremities and laterally and.

outwardly bent to form anti-slipping ele ments, the first of said linkshaving con nection with the curved arms of the said second link.

t. In an anti-slipping device, plurality..

of interconnected links, and a connecting member for the free link ofsaid plurality of links formed of a strand of wire bent upon itself toform curved arms, said arms being engaged by the adjacent link, the freeextremities of said arms being twisted and said twisted portion beinglaterally bent and formed to provide divergent' ground engagingelements'.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature..

eusfrav AnoLPH' noNATH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissener of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

